Motivational factors and student attitudes in language specific classes with advanced learners of German

This article reports on questionnaire results related to motivational factors and student attitudes towards an international bilingual email project between law and business students in England and Germany. Both groups discussed subject-specific content. At the beginning and the end of the project, students filled in a questionnaire answering questions which were designed to elicit information about their motivation for studying a language in conjunction with their main degree courses in business and law. The term motivation and its use in recent publications is examined and particular emphasis is placed on motivational factors which might be connected to the use of information technology. The study focuses on the results gained from the English groups

Bilingual negotiation via e-mail: an international project

This article examines selective results of an international e-mail project between 24 students studying law with German (in England) and English (in Germany).1 It refers to outcomes as manifested in the students' written reports and oral assessments, but concentrates on samples of bilingual negotiation between partners as expressed in their e-mails. The article focuses on the design of the project and the socio-cultural environment in which it is situated. Taking into account the relevant research in computer-mediated communication, the design of the project follows two primary objectives: the acquisition of (1) language and (2) content as part of a task-based e-mail exchange

Introducing ICT to teachers of an institution-wide language programme: principal considerations

This article sets out to introduce some principal pedagogical considerations which influenced the design and delivery of a teacher training project for an institution-wide language programme. A training programme was developed which argues for the necessity of a theoretical framework in which e-learning can take place, as well as introducing different forms of e-learning and their evaluation in context. Some of the cornerstones of the programme delivery are introduced and discussed

Researching language learning processes in open CALL settings for advanced learners

This article reports on a project (electronic role-play) run at Nottingham Trent University. It investigates how knowledge can be constructed collaboratively in an open setting based on computer-mediated communication (CMC) and the internet as primary source for material. The analysis will concentrate on evidence of (1) focus on language form and (2) acquisition of content. Furthermore, it reports about observations made regarding the way in which students utilize the electronic environment during the learning process, namely (3) the flow of information within an open CALL framework and (4) the non-linear composition of text

Student centred legal language study

The article introduces parts of a self-study programme for LLB (Europe) German students, which include the use of satellite TV and CALL. The whole self-study programme was tested for two years at the Nottingham Trent University. This paper focuses on the rationale of the study programme, pedagogical objectives and theoretical considerations within the context of language learning as well as the students’ evaluation. The evaluation shows that overall the package was seen as a positive learning experience. CALL can be a solution to the problem of limited materials for languages for specific purposes. The use of mixed media is possible for language teaching for specific purposes without having to be combined in multimedia computer-based programmes. CALL can also be a solution to the problems caused by reduced contact time

Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics 197:'Make-or-buy' in international oligopoly and the role of competitive pressure

We study how competitive pressure influences the make-or-buy decision that oligopolistic firms face between producing an intermediate component in-house or purchasing it from a domestic supplier. We model outsourcing as a bilateral relationship in which the supplier undertakes relationship-specific investments. A home and foreign firm compete in the home market. Firms’ mode of operation decision depends on cost and strategic considerations. Competitive pressure increases firms’ incentive to outsource. Consumer gains from trade liberalisation are enhanced when it leads to less outsourcing